LEATHERJACKETS "I have had to pick the grubs out of the lawn and feed them to the birds up until now! These nematodes are brilliant." Mr G from Essex. "Dear all, I applied your treatment for leather jackets in the autumn and the result, a lawn that looks like a lawn! thanks" Regards Trevor Godwin Treat Leatherjackets in Sept. Treat persistent Leatherjacket problems NOW as well. Leatherjackets are the larval stage of the crane fly or daddy long legs (see left) and they can quickly devastate a lawn. Leatherjackets hatch in August / Sept and immediately start to feed on the grass roots. They will continue to feed through the winter and following spring. In the summer the leatherjackets pupate (see right) and the next generation of daddy long legs emerge in August and start to lay their eggs back in the infected lawns. In August many people report clouds of Daddy Long Legs emerging from lawns in early morning and this as well as the damage listed below are sure signs of Leatherjacket infestation. Leatherjacket larvae - are about 2.5cm / 1" long, greyish black in colour, legless and with no distinct head. The daddy long legs lay their eggs in late August and they hatch within 2 weeks. The young start to feed immediately and as already mentioned will continue to feed through out the Winter, ready to gorge on grass roots the following Spring. Right : Leatherjackets in the lawn. The symptoms of a Leatherjacket attack are :- Grass growth slows and yellow patches appear. Grass is easily pulled up, with little or no root growth. Starlings peck at the grass in an attempt to eat the grubs. Left : Typical Leatherjacket / Garden Chafer Grub damage. Leatherjacket larvae are the larval stage of the crane fly or daddy long legs and they can have a devastating effect on a lawn. These are pictures which have been sent to me of customers' lawns which have been attacked. "Hello Jon, this is just to let you know how pleased we are with the leatherjacket control. We applied the nematodes according to the instructions and the brown patches on our lawns have definitely stopped spreading. The fresh grass is already growing. We also used your autumn lawn feed and the benefit is apparent. Last year we helplessly watched as our lawns were mutilated. This year we have been able to fight back. Thank you, from two keen gardeners." Brenda and Cyril. "Dear Jon, I have 2 lawns but every summer they went mostly patchy yellow and looked half dead and straw like, despite using fertiliser and watering in dry spells. No one could help and then we came across your site and read about leatherjackets and chafer grubs. I decided to try your nematodes. I admit I thought it all was a lot of expensive nonsense and did not expect the grass to be any different this year !! How wrong I was. To my amazement this year both lawns are lush and beautifully green so far, despite the recent very long dry spell and minimal watering. I find it hard to believe ! Thank you for lovely grass again. I feel that your nematode treatment should be more widely known and written about by gardening column writers to say nothing of books. I have several books about lawns and none mention nematodes." Many thanks again Derek Wallace "Last year I ordered nematodes for leatherjackets. Prior to applying last summer my lawn of about 100 sq.m., was 30% bare. This year I have grass again, thanks to nematodes." Rgds Roy Smith Apply Nemasys® Leatherjacket Killer in Sept / Oct when the leatherjackets are close to the surface and active and the soil temperature is above 10°c / 50°f . Leatherjacket Killer contains a parasitic nematode called Steinernema Feltiae which kills Leatherjackets but is harmless to children, wildlife and pets and also the lawn may be used immediately after application :- Leatherjacket Large Pack - treats 100 sq.m / 125 sq. yds - £19.95 Leatherjacket Economy Pack Pack - treats 500 sq.m / 625 sq. yds - £69.99 For smaller lawns just make solution stronger. - you can't overdose! Nemasys Leatherjacket killer should be applied to the lawn in Sept / Oct when the soil temperature is over 10°C, the soil is moist (we recommend pre - watering the lawn) and the best time to apply is on a dull day or in the evening. Simply mix the nematodes with water and :- Apply large packs with a watering can or hose-end feeder. Economy packs MUST be applied with a sprayer and cannot be split. Each large pack treats up to 100 sqm's or 125sq yds or the economy pack treats 500sqm's or 625 sq yds. Once you have applied the nematodes you MUST wash the nematodes into the soil underneath the lawn by watering again either by hand or with a sprinkler. Treat for severe or persistent Leatherjacket problems NOW and again in September!!!! Treat for severe or persistent Leatherjacket problems NOW and again in September!!!! For severe or persistent Leatherjacket problems, treat TWICE a year - NOW and again in September. When treating in the spring, the nematodes are applied in the same way, but MUST BE applied at double strength as the mature leatherjackets are much harder to kill. You MUST treat in the autumn as well! Leatherjacket Killer Large Pack - treats 50 sq.m / 62.50 sq. yds in the spring - £19.95 Leatherjacket Killer Economy Pack Pack - treats 250 sq.m / 312.50 sq. yds in the spring - £69.99 Special Offers - Double delivery of Nemasys® Leatherjacket Killer! - Order NOW for all year round control and save money too. 1st pack is sent ASAP and the 2nd w/c 15/09. Spring plus autumn large pack normally £39.90 offer £34.90 saving £5.00 Spring plus autumn economy pack normally £139.98 offer £129.98 saving £10.00 For the application of nematodes use a watering can, hose-end feeder or sprayer. Click here to find out more about application methods. N.B. Not all models of hose-end feeder are suitable - you need to use either the Phostrogen feeder by PBI Ltd - which we supply or the Miracle Grow hose-end feeder. Once you have applied Leatherjacket Killer to your lawn, the leatherjackets will go through three stages :- (chafer grubs pictured below in various stages of nematode infection and it is the same process for leatherjackets.) Stage1 - The nematodes invade them pest and start to destroy it from the inside out. At this stage there will be no visible change to the appearance of the pest but they will stop feeding on the lawn. Stage 2 - After several weeks the nematodes continue to invade the pest and the grubs / leatherjackets will have visibly shrunk and the body cavity will have started to turn black. As the grubs are now a less attractive food source, the birds and animals will start to leave the lawn alone. Stage 3 - Eventually the grubs / leatherjackets will have been completely destroyed. The birds and animals will stop destroying the lawn as the food source has been removed. PRODUCTS AVAILABLE NAME DESCRIPTION PRICE ADD Spring Leatherjacket Killer Large Pack treats 50 sqm / 62.50 sq yds - Delivery ASAP £19.95 Economy Pack treats 250 sqm / 312.50 sq yds - Delivery ASAP £69.99 Autumn Leatherjacket Killer Large Pack treats 100 sqm / 125sq yds - Pre-order for delivery w/c 15/09 £19.95 Economy Pack treats 500 sqm / 625sq yds - Pre-order for delivery w/c 15/09 £69.99 Spring plus autumn special offers - 2 Deliveries with the 1st pack is sent ASAP and the 2nd w/c 15/09. Spring plus Autumn Special Offers Large pack normally £39.90 saving £5.00 £34.90 Economy pack normally £139.98 saving £10.00 £129.98 Hose-end Feeder Phostrogen Hose-end feeder. £9.99 Pumpless Sprayer Use for Economy packs. £39.50 Soil Thermometer Robust and easy to use. £12.50 OTHER LAWN PRODUCTS The Green Weeder - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - control broadleaved weeds (such as dandelions) in lawns without the use of chemicals. Simply fill the hollow stick with coarse salt (dishwasher salt is ideal and cheap), push the nozzle onto the centre of the weed and a small amount of salt is released. After 2 weeks the weed will disappear and will not grow again. It is so easy and fast to use , that it's ideal for clearing large lawns of weeds. Customers report being able to clear 500 dandelions in an hour. Works on Dandelions and other broadleaved weeds. The Green Weeder is 1m tall so you do not even need to bend down. Stop Wormcasts - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - Discourage worms and stop wormcasts by applying Sulphur Lawn to lower the pH of your lawn - It is common knowledge that worms do not like acidic conditions (but your lawn does) so the more acidic your lawn the less problem worms and their casts will be. Worm casts are a real nuisance on lawns as they ruin the appearance of a fine lawn. Ignoring worm casts on your lawn by squashing them flat with your mower will create an uneven surface, smother existing grass & provide an ideal seed bed for weeds to grow. New for 2008 - Sulphur Lawn comes with a pH testing kit which allows you to monitor the pH of your lawn before and after application. Lawn Fertilisers - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - All lawn fertilisers have been reduced in price this year. Green Gardener has a range of 2 lawn feeds :- Organic Spring/summer fertiliser - This superb organic feed gives your lawn the very best. This fertiliser will give the lawn a quick boost to growth and will keep working for 3 months. Only two applications are needed a year. Autumn fertiliser - This superb autumn feed keeps grass healthy and happy through the winter. The fertiliser is released slowly over 6 months and will not be washed away by heavy winter rains. Only one application is needed in the autumn. New Product - Grass Treat - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - is a natural additive for speeding up the composting of grass clippings. Grass clippings are not an ideal compost material. If you add too many at a time, they compress together, let in little air or water, then collapse into a slimy, stinking mess. Stop this happening by adding this natural additive to your grass clippings. It contains natural bacteria and enzymes and accelerates the composting process by balancing the Carbon/Nitrogen ratio. is supplied as a powder and is added directly to the grass clippings. Compost treat for grass is pH Neutral, Environmentally friendly, Easy to use and Combines both bacteria and enzymes. Either sprinkle the powder directly over the grass clippings or dissolve in a mug full of warm water first and then add to the grass clippings. Either way, turn the grass clippings to distribute the product evenly. NutraIron - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - Nutra-Iron - A great lawn consists of just grass but every gardener knows that it is not just grass that grows. This organic treatment is watered on and encourages grass growth (forcing out the unwanted growth) and improves appearance - helping your lawn to recover and look good. Applying Iron will encourage the grass to grow which in turn will turn the unwanted growth black, so it can be raked out. Nutra-Iron with its fast acting water on formula contains high quality soluble iron, which is stronger and therefore more economical than other preparations. Nutra-iron also quickly improves the colour of the lawn, and treated grass is stronger and healthier, making it more resistant to pests, diseases and weeds. Grass seed - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - Need to repair your lawn? We offer both Fast Grass and a traditional grass seed mix. Fast grass - This is a grow in the bag lawn repair kit. Have lush green grass growing in as little as a week with the reseeded area ready to use in less than five weeks - much faster than standard grass. The grass seed is pre-germinated in the bag and once germinated, sprinkle onto the areas to be re-seeded. Landscape lawn seed - This seed mix is ideal for over-seeding an established lawn to repair damage caused by wear and tear/pest damage or for seeding a new lawn. Ant control - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - Ants is lawns can be a real problem. Tackle them by watering in the nematodes (steinernema feltiae) directly into the nests using a watering can when the soil is 10c or above and the ants are present. Comes as a powder, which will keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks and should be used in one go once opened. The nematodes are safe for children, pets and wildlife and the lawn can be used directly after application. It is impossible to over-dose so simply re-apply as needed. Use our planned programme for persistent ant infestation - we send you fresh packs of nematodes at 4 weekly intervals so you can keep the ants at bay. Lawn tools - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE - Many jobs are easier if you have the correct tools. Fertiliser Spreader - Accurate application of lawn feed is essential. This high quality and rustproof fertiliser spreader is delivered ready assembled. Use to apply fertilisers, grass seed and our new sulphur worm quickly and accurately. Pumpless sprayer - You MUST use a sprayer for applying ECONOMY packs of nematodes. This high quality pumpless sprayer holds 7.6 litres of spray and is pressurised automatically as the sprayer is filled with water. Ideal for applying other natural sprays. Why not turn your worthless kitchen waste into top quality compost and concentrated liquid feed! Our all in one wormeries come complete and ready to go.